Engagement rings can be expensive, but there’s no need to break the bank when you know how to pick the right one for your partner. While natural diamonds are the immediate and conventional choice by some buyers, lab diamond rings can also offer good value. Even more, they come in high-grade types at the price of a small, low-quality mined diamond.
Diamonds are the go-to choice among couples who are looking for engagement rings. One common challenge about this, however, is the price of natural diamonds, where even a low-grade one could cost a fortune. With this, many opt for lab diamonds, which can be 30% to 50% cheaper than the natural variants of diamonds.
Despite the stigma revolving around them, it is important to note that lab diamonds offer the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. This similarity in structure goes down to both the diamonds’ elemental carbon in a diamond cubic, making them indistinguishable from one another.
Yet, is it really the perfect choice for you?
Mined or Lab-Grown Diamonds?
As mentioned before, mined and lab diamonds are the same in various aspects. The main difference between them is the way they are produced, with lab-grown diamonds capable of forming within months. This allows producers of these stones to offer them at a much more affordable price than their natural counterparts, although the pricing of lab diamonds can also vary depending on their grades.
Of course, the choice between mined and lab-grown diamonds depends on your preference as the buyer, and you can always go for conventional natural diamonds. However, they commonly come with steep price tags, as their sources are finite. With this, expect that you’ll still spend quite a sum even for a piece of diamond with low grades.
That reason makes lab diamonds attractive to couples who are looking for a more practical purchase. Due to their lower prices, you can purchase lab diamonds that could be double the size or quality of a natural diamond for the same price.
Picking Your Engagement Lab-Grown Diamond
The perfect engagement ring starts with the right choice of diamond. Here, we advise couples to observe the four Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat) that can serve as a guide in finding the right lab-grown diamond for them. However, aside from them, there are also other points to consider in order to create this engagement ring:
- Shape. When selecting one, you might come across different shapes of the stone, with the round being the most common in the market. There are other shapes as well (e.g., cushion cut, princess, oval, emerald, etc.), giving you a handful of choices for your specific preference. However, note that your choice of shape could affect the color, clarity, and carat of a diamond.
- Carat Weight and Price. As expected, the price of a diamond increases with its carat weight. In the United States, the average carat weight for diamonds falls between 1.08 and 1.2 carats. Some buyers choose slightly lower weights (e.g., 0.8ct or 0.9ct), which are hardly noticeable to the naked eye. Interestingly, lab-grown diamonds remain more affordable than mined diamonds, even at higher-carat options.
- Diamond Cut. The cut of a diamond, distinct from its shape, significantly impacts its appearance. It determines how well the stone reflects light, adding life and sparkle. When selecting a diamond, consider opting for those with Ideal or Excellent cuts.
- Diamond Color. Aim for a diamond that appears white. While the cut influences color perception, colorless diamonds typically fall within the D to E range. However, G to I color diamonds also appear colorless to the naked eye.
- Clarity and Inclusions. Ensure your diamond is “eye-clean,” meaning it lacks visible inclusions. While natural blemishes are common, strive for stones with FL (Flawless) or IF (Internally Flawless) clarity grades. VS1 to VS2 range diamonds are also excellent choices.
- Certification Matters. Even lab-grown diamonds require certification. Look for reputable stores offering certifications from bodies like GIA, AGS, and IGI to confirm authenticity and quality.
- Setting. The material used for the setting can impact the diamond’s color, either enhancing or detracting from its appearance. If you have a colorless lab diamond, opt for white gold or platinum settings. These materials emphasize the stone’s colorless brilliance, making it stand out and appear more high-grade. On the other hand, for diamonds with a slight yellow tint (typically in the K to M color grade range), choose yellow gold or rose gold settings. These metals have darker shades compared to white gold and platinum, complementing diamonds with poorer color grades. The result is a harmonious blend that maintains the stone’s original color appearance.
Conclusion
Lab-grown engagement diamond rings are an ideal option for couples looking for practical purchases. The stones of these rings offer the same qualities as natural diamonds and even give you the option to select the specific cut, color, clarity, and carat of your choice. They even come with their own certificates, especially when you purchase them from trusted sources or stores.
Moreover, due to their nature as lab-produced stones, they tend to be more affordable than their natural counterparts. This could allow you to purchase bigger stones with good color, cut, and clarity grades for the same price as a small, low-grade mined diamond.
Then again, these points are not the only things you should consider in order to preserve the beauty of the diamond in the ring. Regardless of how colorless the diamond is, it could still appear unimpressive without the right setting material. As such, it is important to ensure that you are using the right metal that will complement the color grade of the diamond.
Ultimately, these choices should reflect the personal preferences of the buyer. While we believe that the points mentioned earlier will benefit any lab-grown diamond engagement ring buyer, the choice of whether these things should be observed depends on every individual’s preference and budget.